Posts by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
(DIR) Post #AwmRZWogtc9T1NjHjk by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-08-03T02:19:33Z
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The right, once again surprised by the connection between "We'll remove support for the very poor" and "Why are there all these homeless people living on the street and making our cities less appealing?"If they can't manage compassion you'd think they're at least recognise self-interest, but apparently ideology trumps pragmatism.
(DIR) Post #AwmRZcV3lW0ueEagyG by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-08-03T02:36:22Z
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I joke that I used to be a libertarian but then I grew up, and while it's a cheap line there's a lot of truth in it.One of the key moments for me was going on my first overseas trip in the 1990s. The sheer number of homeless living in the streets of San Francisco, one of the richest cities in one of the richest countries in the world was confronting to me. This led me to understand that while many people succeeded in our society, others did not, and we couldn't just handwave them away with a "They should have done better" because they weren't going anywhere.I still wasn't ready for the full truth but I realised that I didn't want to live in a society where people ended up homeless and starving, for purely selfish reasons if nothing else. The compassion came later.
(DIR) Post #AxcWRFAZE7R1xnkNJA by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-08-28T02:46:32Z
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@rob I considered such ideas because I didn't like the idea of the school having management, but then the school provided a Chromebook and the relevant accounts and everything else. So all it gets used for is schoolwork and reading fan fiction at school.The kid then has other devices under our management if they need to do anything else.Think of it like the work/personal split where no one sensible uses work devices for personal use any more.
(DIR) Post #AxcWhcfrbWZ3UnCCVU by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-08-28T03:54:08Z
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@rob @lachlan I know where you're coming from, but to them a Chromebook is like buying the right textbook or having the right calculator.I just think there's better battles to fight.
(DIR) Post #AxcXqzRKQpCAf7QZhA by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-08-28T02:54:34Z
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@rob I entirely agree about the management point. Pity they don't supply the Chromebooks, it seems like a better way to do it.As each school is a bit different, it might be a matter of asking that particular school whether it will work, etc. I may be being optimistic about whether there's anyone who will be able to answer the question. :)
(DIR) Post #AxtO4pjlbewAlnKiTw by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-09-05T09:35:20Z
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I'm getting to the point where I'd rather watch quirky movies of middling quality instead of big budget superhero/action movies of middling quality. Seven Psychopaths was ok.
(DIR) Post #AyJmjgIrB8WUcpZHrE by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-09-18T02:45:34Z
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Australian Privacy Commissioner once again pushes back on use of facial recognition by retailers: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/australia/aussie-kmart-stores-breached-shoppers-privacy-facial-techSuch a contrast to the "sure, go for it!" from NZ's Privacy Commissioner.
(DIR) Post #Az0cmwGYRsXYfgJIWG by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-10-07T20:48:08Z
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Annoying. Kim got a message from Spark saying her phone won't be supported after they turn off 3G and, sure enough, while it supports all the necessary 4G and 5G bands, it doesn't support VOLTE calling.But in reality the phone (Motorola Edge 30 Neo) does support VOLTE, it's just that Spark haven't enabled it from their end.The good news is that 2degrees does support VOLTE on the Moto Edge 30 Neo so I guess it's time for a new provider. Thank god for number portability.
(DIR) Post #Az0cmxtEPZ4XhvPhRY by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-10-07T20:55:50Z
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Unfortunately this means that buying interesting phones from overseas and using them in New Zealand is going to get a lot more complicated.If a local provider doesn't choose to enable VoLTE on their network for your phone model, you're going to be out of luck.Or am I missing something?
(DIR) Post #AzPjitscvzIGkC8bmC by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-10-20T22:20:58Z
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@vik Sure is! We logged a 101kmh gust at 9:16.While we've had some serious power glitches, I'm pleased to say that the main Carterton outage starts one street north of us. :)
(DIR) Post #AzeJjoA85jOkzfeLIW by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-10-27T22:08:42Z
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Anyone else curious to find out how much the NZ government is spending on US-owned cloud computing services?I found a very little bit of information at https://www.digital.govt.nz/products-and-services/current-suppliers but it's old, super general, and I'm told that not everyone goes through the all of government agreement anyway.And yes, the thought that whatever the amount is shows what budget we have to set up our own services did occur to me.
(DIR) Post #B079PpxKhqKSYcuxiC by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-11-10T20:41:39Z
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From Reddit: "I have never wanted more to be left alone after working IT. My dream is showing up to work and ducking into some nondescript door and moving through a series of small corridors and tunnels to reach my little hidden office where nobody knows where I am."
(DIR) Post #B0NfDLfRxIfwRqydxQ by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-11-18T20:13:00Z
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@strypey I like reading your posts and find them interesting but often don't have time to engage, so the little star is just a "thanks".
(DIR) Post #B0a45gtRXdkDTaXvwu by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-11-24T19:43:49Z
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Waiting for the headline: "Local councils combine to take responsibilities from central government: 'It seems that they have poor decision making and can't make long-term plans, we need to step in and help' says local mayor"
(DIR) Post #B0oRaGKbMlt1EQEdc0 by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-12-01T18:17:38Z
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@vik I'm guessing you're going to need more than 5-8 ports?
(DIR) Post #B0xheMUJlU7nAqOatU by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-12-06T05:27:22Z
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It's Robin Hood the Pantomime time here!
(DIR) Post #B1OuX7QltSon7UX1Jg by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-12-19T08:31:33Z
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@strypey Well, except that the head of the public service, Brian Roche, said that he would have fired him anyway if he hadn't.I assume that Coster realised this and took the only option left to him.
(DIR) Post #B1U8Re5aCCLyHqSYa0 by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-12-21T21:01:01Z
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@vik I like my Ryobi tools. Vast range, reasonably cheap, perform and last ok for my non-professional use. Good supply of third-party batteries.
(DIR) Post #B1gm88fp6Lo7PmBPxA by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2025-12-27T23:16:13Z
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Exciting insight into cat behaviour! Gryphon hunts leaves and brings them inside, typically leaving 2-5 in the hallway each night. However, we just got back from being away for a week and there were only a couple there... until the next day when there were 5 or 6.Conclusion: he only brings in his prey when we're at home.
(DIR) Post #B2RE8HW8M9gncVWwZk by thomasbeagle@mastodon.nz
2026-01-19T05:45:41Z
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Yay, we survived the Ridge Walk and didn't even get too wet! The forest was really quite beautiful in that moist NZ bush kind of a way.Thanks to @lotographia @v_for_verbosity @fincham @tehnuka and the mystery 14yo for joining me.